Pots Clang, a President Falls and 30 Die As Argentines
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MJF-4 THE AMERICAS Martha Farmelo is the Institute’s Suzanne Ecke McColl Fellow studying gender issues in Argentina. ICWA Her email is [email protected]. A Seizure or a Birth? LETTERS Pots Clang, a President Falls and 30 Die as Argentines Say “Enough!” Since 1925 the Institute of Current World Affairs (the Crane- By Martha Farmelo Rogers Foundation) has provided BUENOS AIRES – December 21—3:00 p.m. I shouldn’t be writing this right now. long-term fellowships to enable My head hurts so badly that I should take two extra-strength Tylenol and lie down. outstanding young professionals My three-year-old son, Camilo, is napping, my precious opportunity to rest. But I to live outside the United States must write to slow the non-stop, three-day adrenaline-rush through my veins. and write about international areas and issues. An exempt I also write to understand the tightness in my stomach, fluttering in my chest operating foundation endowed by and pressure against the backs of my eyes—I think I’m feeling impotence, grief, the late Charles R. Crane, the elation, fear—about the vertiginous chain of events of the last few days. That Institute is also supported by chain began with scattered looting and ended in at least 30 deaths, the resignation contributions from like-minded of Economy Minister Domingo Cavallo and the loud, buzzing ascent of the heli- individuals and foundations. copter above the Casa Rosada that whisked away President Fernando de la Rúa after he resigned last evening. TRUSTEES I take a deep breath. What did I write yesterday? A few days ago? Last week? Joseph Battat I can’t even remember if the phone call from Eric, my worried friend in Washing- Mary Lynne Bird ton, was this morning or last night. Let me look back. Steven Butler William F. Foote ***** Kitty Hempstone Wednesday, December 12, 2001—11:00 p.m. Pramila Jayapal Peter Bird Martin Tonight at 8:30, I was giving Camilo a bath when I began to hear clanging Ann Mische pots and pans. Anticipating tomorrow’s general strike, men and women across Dasa Obereigner Buenos Aires banged cooking pots and drivers tooted their horns to express their Paul A. Rahe opposition to the government’s latest economic measures. The sound was so deaf- Carol Rose Chandler Rosenberger John Spencer Edmund Sutton Dirk J. Vandewalle HONORARY TRUSTEES David Elliot David Hapgood Pat M. Holt Edwin S. Munger Richard H. Nolte Albert Ravenholt Phillips Talbot Institute of Current World Affairs The Crane-Rogers Foundation Four West Wheelock Street Men and women of all ages banged pots and pans in the streets of Palermo Hanover, New Hampshire 03755 U.S.A. and other neighborhoods in Buenos Aires to protest the government’s economic policies, including a $250 weekly cash limit on withdrawals. ening that we had to shout to be heard. And this is not a just about everyone was shocked by the breadth and poor neighborhood. We live in middle-class Palermo, fierceness of this angry protest, one that transcended po- where the recent $250 weekly limit on cash withdrawals litical parties, unions or other organizing forces. has infuriated people who otherwise might not have par- ticipated in the protests. Thursday, December 13, 2001—9:00 p.m. Frightened, Camilo dipped his chin toward the bath water and covered his ears with his hands. I wanted to Alan just put Camilo to bed. We must be the only diffuse his fear and let him experience his first cacerolazo people in Argentina who put their kid to bed so early. (from cacerola, or cooking pot). I wrapped him in a towel, Most people haven’t even had dinner yet. carried him to our tenth-floor balcony and held him on my lap. In time, what was frightening became entertain- Due to the strike, Camilo’s pre-school was closed “for ing. When he asked why people were making such noise, security reasons” (such as the potential danger to those I told him simply that people are angry because they don’t who violated the day’s ban on public transportation) and have jobs. Echoing a conversation we had a couple of we were cautioned to stay close to home, just in case. As weeks ago, he replied, “Like the woman on the steps of we played Candy Land on our balcony and walked the the subway who asks for money because she doesn’t have eerily hushed streets of our neighborhood, men, women a job and can’t buy food?” and children looted grocery stores in Rosario—the same city where nationwide looting erupted 12 years ago at “Exactly,” I replied, stunned. the height of hyperinflation and eventually led to the res- ignation of President Raúl Alfonsín. Protesters burned The riotous clanging lasted twice the 15 minutes pro- taxis and ATMs in other parts of the country. grammed. I had read about such a protest last year in a US magazine, but it’s something else to watch your neigh- At first, people weren’t looting. Needy families in bors striking the hell out of their sauce pans and the guy several areas across the country simply shoplifted en masse who sells us our newspapers banging the lamppost with from grocery stores, even where the government and su- all his might. From what I’m hearing on tonight’s news, permarkets tried to head off such theft by distributing thousands of bags of food. Monday, December 17, 2001—11:30 a.m. I just e-mailed my friend, Jay, in Washington and told him about our weekend: “In a word, we’re well. Yesterday morning the three of us went for a bike ride in the crowded, luscious, green Palermo Parks. It was glorious. The weather was sunny, low 80’s, low humidity. Camilo sang in his seat on the back of my bike. We happened upon the Buenos Aires Symphony playing a concert of Argentine classics under some trees. Then we ate some “choripan” (a sausage sand- wich) we bought from a vendor who had turned half a steel-drum into a grill, and rode around some more be- fore heading home for nap-time. I’m sure you know that things here are getting dicey economically (and socially, politically), and it’s hard (though fascinating) to watch it unfold. Yet this weekend my stress level has been lower than in a long time, so I’m trying to just enjoy it as much as possible.” Tuesday, December 18, 2001—11:00 p.m. Summer vacation has begun. Friday was the last day of the school year, something I will forever associate with All over the city, the lines at banks to open accounts, June, not mid-December. I spent this morning toasting sign up for a debit-card or simply request information the upcoming New Year with 7-Up and pan dulce (Ar- wound around the block. gentine fruitcake) with middle-school social workers and 2 MJF-3 school psychologists I had met while observing a sexu- ality-education course for lo- cal teens. As I rode the num- ber 60 bus home, I thought, “Hooray! I’m on vacation! No newsletters for at least two weeks.” So much for my lower stress level, though. Earlier tonight I settled in front of the news with a cup of lemon tea. There’s been looting in Rosario again. It seems ev- eryone is recalling 1989, and the news shows are even re- playing footage of looting from then. But some key factors have changed for the worse. Alan just told me that the number of indigent people in Argentina has practically doubled on President de la Rúa’s watch. Between 1989 and 1999, then-President Carlos Saúl Menem chan- neled a fair amount of cash to the poor. This sustained cronyism, but held the num- ber of indigent Argentines stable at 2.9 million—even as the economy deteriorated in the latter half of those ten years and income inequality increased throughout. De la Rúa did no such thing, and in just two years the number of indigent Argentines soared to 5.7 million. That’s a lot more hungry people. The financial context is also different. On December 1, 2001, Economy Minister Domingo Cavallo announced a new package of emer- actually more likely to be fired, since few businesses will gency measures. In the midst of the worst run on depos- want to increase fixed costs during a prolonged reces- its in recent history, the key policy is a $250 weekly limit sion. At Camilo’s pre-school, few parents can pay this month’s on cash bank withdrawals. Most Argentines receive their fee. As a result, the teachers and cleaning staff aren’t get- salaries and pay their rent, utilities, food and domestic ting paid, so many of them, in turn, can’t pay their debts, help (if they have it)—even buy cars and homes—with buy holiday presents or always put ample food on the cash. The result is rampant confusion and turmoil. table. It’s like being in the back seat of a car when the Cavallo claims this change will force much of the work driver slams on the brakes: not only does movement come that is paid under the table to be “officialized” so that to a sudden halt, but as you double over, your head hits employees can be paid with checks or bank transfers (and the front seat and the seatbelt cuts into your belly. receive benefits). Meanwhile, Argentines voted overwhelmingly “Yes” I’m hearing and reading accounts that employees are in a popular vote organized by the non-partisan Frente INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS 3 Nacional Contra la Pobreza or National Front Against Pov- is supposed to be married by a judge tomorrow, and her erty (FRENAPO).